Shallowing your downswing is a crucial aspect of improving your golf swing. By following a few simple steps, you can enhance your contact with longer irons, increase consistency, and boost swing speed. In this step-by-step guide by Erika Larkin, one of Golf Digest’s 50 Best Teachers, you can learn how to find the slot and maximize your power and speed.
When trying to shallow your golf swing, it is important to feel pressure on the right wrist. Players who tend to get too steep in the downswing often manipulate the club or are too tight at the top of their backswing. To get in the correct position for a shallow downswing, allow the club to lay off a bit and feel pressure building in the back of your trail wrist, similar to a waiter’s tray position.
The next step in shallowing your golf swing is to drive the trail elbow into the body. As you pull the elbow down and drive it into your side, it should feel like your arms are narrowing slightly. This movement shifts you slightly behind the ball and gets your club path on plane, helping you keep the club behind you for longer and creating effortless lag in the downswing.
The final step in the process of shallowing your downswing is to drag the club down the wall. It is common for amateur golfers to have an over-the-top move in their downswing, but it is important to feel like you are dragging the club vertically down towards the ground, as if it were trailing along a wall behind you. This motion allows the club to lay back on the plane and provides a direct route to the ball.
As you practice shallowing your downswing, be mindful of how much you are hanging back. It is possible to get too shallow too quickly, which can hinder your success. It is important to stick to the checkpoints provided by Larkin and avoid overdoing the movements. By following her guidance and not overexaggerating the feels, you can enhance your golf swing and see improvements in your contact, consistency, and swing speed.
